Speed limit to be cut on Stuart Highway section

Authorities hope a permanent reduction in the speed limit on a section of the Stuart Highway in Alice Springs will make the road safer.

The highway speed limit between the Tom Brown roundabout and Commonage Road will decrease from 80 to 70 kilometres per hour.

Geoff Horni from the Transport Department says the change, which comes into effect today, is partly in response to a number of fatalities.

"It's appropriate we reduce the speed limit through there to reduce the risks to not just the pedestrians but also to the road users, taking into the account all the traffic issues in the area," he said.

"The area of the Gap has been subject to a lot of changes over recent times - there are increasing traffic volumes through that area, there is a changing development through the area and there have been a number of fatalities in that vicinity subject to a coronial investigation."